Students Ending Rape Culture: Taking back the night

For more than 30 years, Illinois State University has held an annual march against sexual violence called Take Back the Night. On Oct. 15, the event returned, giving students, faculty, and community members an opportunity to stand together and march against sexual violence.

The event included a presentation on the history of Take Back the Night, a poster-making session, pizza, a march, and a vigil for those affected by sexual violence.

Isa Marshall, a sophomore majoring in public health with a minor in children’s studies, is the president and Student Government Association representative of Students Ending Rape Culture (SERC), a student organization at ISU. Marshall helped organize the event.

“There’s the misconception that sexual violence only impacts women; that it’s a women’s issue. When, in reality, it doesn’t matter what sex you were assigned at birth or what your gender identity is. Anyone ever can be impacted by sexual violence, at any time,” Marshall said.

Marshall noted that victim-blaming is one of the biggest challenges survivors face when seeking help.

“I think one of the biggest challenges that survivors face when seeking support is that there’s the idea of victim blaming, which is basically when people are like, oh, it was your fault or asking questions like, ‘What were you wearing?’ or ‘How much did you have to drink that night?’ Which can really lead to them not feeling super supported and that they’re not being taken seriously, which can ultimately impact whether or not they want to seek help in the first place,” Marshall said.

Marshall said the most important way to support survivors is to believe them.

“I think the biggest tip that I would give to anyone wanting to provide comfort to a friend who’s trying to seek help from sexual violence is to start by believing,” Marshall said.

Marshall also shared a message for Illinois State students.

“It’s just really important that they are aware of sexual violence and that they are here to support survivors in any capacity in which they’re comfortable. So, getting comfortable with talking about sexual violence, you have to name it to tame it. So, make sure that we’re comfortable with having these very uncomfortable conversations,” Marshall said.

Asha Wallace, a junior majoring in psychology and communication sciences and disorders, attended the event.

“I came today because not only do I think that we should stand up and stand with survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, but I also don’t want to be scared on campus anymore. I don’t want to feel unsafe walking home late at night from a party. I don’t want to weigh the options on whether or not it’s better to just sleep over at a friend’s house or make the walk at 10 o’clock at night and go to my own bed and sleep in my own bed. I should be able to sleep in my own bed,

free of that consideration, and make that walk. and not be clutching my keys the whole time,” Wallace said.

Wallace said events like Take Back the Night are important because they bring people together, support survivors and demonstrate that the community wants change.

“I think they’re important because it builds coalition between people. It offers support to survivors and people who know survivors. But it also makes sure that admin knows that we’re fed up. And that this is an issue on campus, and we need to be taking it seriously. And it also lets perpetrators know, hey, these people are not alone, and they’re standing together, and they’re angry. So shut it down. And it gets us talking. Which is important, too,” Wallace said.

Wallace said more needs to be done to address sexual violence on campus.

“Honestly, I think we could be doing more. I think we could be doing more, because it still happens, the hazing, the sexual assault, the harassment. It happens on campus, and until that stops, we don’t have enough resources. And we’re not doing enough,” Wallace said.

Wallace emphasized the importance of education and accountability in preventing sexual violence.

“It shouldn’t be on survivors to figure everything out. You shouldn’t be the one having to look for resources, and go do all of these things. We should stop it before it starts. So, I know that there are a couple of programs out there. about, like, hey, consent is key. But we need to crack down harder. Teach your brothers, teach your sons, that kind of thing, hold them accountable, and teach people how to intervene when that kind of stuff is said to them, because it’s unacceptable when it’s said, and it’s unacceptable when it’s done, too. And it’s a slippery slope between us cracking jokes, about sexual abuse, and harassment and violence, to it actually happening,” Wallace said.

Jacklyn Weir, assistant director for the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, attended and helped organize the event.

“This is an event that we organize annually, and in the last five years that I’ve been here and have been organizing it, we really wanted it to be as inclusive as possible. And so, this year, like previous years, is about protesting violence and demanding the right to safety access public space. Historically, take back the night is specifically about gender-based violence, and that’s still true, but in recognition, for example, the Nolan case, many people, unfortunately, deserve this right and don’t have it,” Weir said.

Weir said she hoped attendees felt encouraged by their participation.

“Collective effervescence. The feeling of protesting with other people for a good thing,” Weir said.

Weir said the march would continue as long as gender-based violence remained an issue.

“Since the ’70s, gender-based violence at night still exists and as long as that is true, we will continue to hold this,” Weir said.

Weir hopes the march inspires others to take a stand against sexual violence.

“No one’s gonna step in and stop this, so you need to be that voice of change,” Weir said.